UConn's frontcourt as dominant as any in country

Rich Elliott

Updated 10:58 pm, Sunday, November 24, 2013

HARTFORD -- There was little question that the UConn women would be potent from the perimeter this season. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis made a team single-season record 118 3-pointers last season when she led the nation in 3-point shooting percentage (.493). Bria Hartley has proven that she has the ability to score from the perimeter throughout her career. And Moriah Jefferson worked during the off-season to improve her shooting.

However, the Huskies understood that in order for them to find extensive success on the outside they had to find extensive success inside, too. The trio of 6-foot-5 center Stefanie Dolson, 6-4 forward Breanna Stewart and 6-3 center Kiah Stokes has been as dominant as any frontcourt in the country through the first eight games.

They continued to thrive Sunday in leading No. 1 UConn to an 88-39 victory over St. Bonaventure before 8,242 in the Hall of Fame Challenge at XL Center, combining for 46 points, 29 rebounds, eight assists and 10 blocks in 78 minutes.

"We have really great shooters, but if we can't do stuff in the post then they're just going to deny all of our shooters,'' Stokes said. "But if we develop a post game it definitely opens up room for our shooters and for us. Teams are going to have trouble picking which way they want to get beat, whether in the post or on the outside.''

Stokes had a career-high 19 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in 25 minutes against the Bonnies. Dolson finished with 16 points, a season-high 15 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 30 minutes. Stewart added 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 23 minutes.

They also committed just three turnovers as the Huskies improved to 8-0.

"Obviously, you want to see that down the road against a higher level of competition,'' UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "But, all in all, I think the three of them have played really, really well, with few exceptions, in these eight games.''

Dolson has recorded four double-doubles in the last six games and has reached double figures in rebounds in five of the last six.

Stewart has scored at least 24 points in four of the last six games.

Stokes has scored in double figures in a career-high four straight games.

"I think we're working well together,'' Dolson said. "When one is of us is low the other one flashes high, gets the ball and then just looks right down low immediately. That's the first look that we're thinking, and we've just been clicking on the court.''

Stokes has been the wild card for the Huskies. Once Morgan Tuck underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right knee Nov. 12, Stokes was the lone post player coming off the bench. She needed to emerge, and she has capitalized on her extended playing time.

"We've got three super-strong post players,'' Jefferson said. "And Kiah's come in and done a great job. Even when we're feeding her she's finishing and she's getting blocks at the defensive end. So it helps us a lot.''

Stewart is averaging a team-high 18.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.8 blocks in 26.5 minutes. Dolson is averaging 14.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.5 blocks in 31.1 minutes. And Stokes is averaging 8.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and a team-high 3.3 blocks in 23.6 minutes They are accounting for 47.3 percent of UConn's scoring and 60.5 percent of the rebounding and are shooting a combined 57.0 percent from the field (126-of-221). They are also the primary reason why the Huskies have outscored the opposition 378-132 in the paint this season.

UConn will only become more imposing inside once Tuck, a 6-2 forward, returns to action. She is expected to be sidelined another two to four weeks.

"We're good,'' Dolson said. "We've been working really hard down at the post end and I'm really proud of how we've been finishing, how we've been posting up. So we're just going to keep working hard and keep finishing when the guards give it to us.''